U.S. patent number 5,951,462 [Application Number 09/170,212] was granted by the patent office on 1999-09-14 for electronic endoscope system for displaying unconnected scope.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kazuhiro Yamanaka.
United States Patent |
5,951,462 |
Yamanaka |
September 14, 1999 |
Electronic endoscope system for displaying unconnected scope
Abstract
The present system is an electronic endoscope system capable of
immediately deciding a trouble on scope connection and moreover
easily obtaining ROM version information from the system. In the
case of this system, a scope having a CCD is provided with a
microprocessor and a processor unit for processing a signal is
provided with a microcomputer and a ROM to communicate intrinsic
data between the scope and the processor. In this case, the
microcomputer decides imperfect connection of the scope and
moreover decides a scope-connection error by detecting a fixed
value for detection incorporated into communication data. Moreover,
when there is imperfect connection of the scope or a connection
error, a character message for prompting connection is displayed on
the screen of a monitor. Furthermore, in this case, the version
information of the ROM is displayed at the same time.
Inventors: |
Yamanaka; Kazuhiro (Omiya,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
(Saitama, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
18475659 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/170,212 |
Filed: |
October 13, 1998 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 11, 1997 [JP] |
|
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9-362026 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/118;
348/E5.043; 600/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
5/23203 (20130101); H04N 2005/2255 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
5/232 (20060101); H04N 5/225 (20060101); A61B
001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;600/103,109,117,118,136,137,142,145,152,172,174,175,112,110
;340/501,531,661,870.16 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leubecker; John P.
Assistant Examiner: Hatton; Ira
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Snider & Chao Snider; Ronald
R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic endoscope system comprising:
communication means for communicating data communication between a
scope for observing the inside of an object to be observed and a
processor unit for processing an image signal;
decision means for deciding an imperfect-connection state of said
scope or deciding a connection-error state of said scope in
accordance with said communication data; and
display control means for displaying a predetermined image showing
an unconnected scope on a monitor screen when the
imperfect-connection or connection-error state of said scope is
decided by the decision means.
2. The electronic endoscope system for displaying an unconnected
scope according to claim 1, wherein a fixed value for detection is
incorporated into communication data in order to decide said
connection-error state.
3. The electronic endoscope system for displaying an unconnected
scope according to claim 1, wherein said display control means
displays the version data of a memory which is set to said
processor unit and in which the data for setting various
operational conditions considering the intrinsic data for each of
said scopes is stored together with the image showing said
unconnected scope.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application
No. 9-362026 filed on Dec. 11, 1997 which is incorporated herein by
reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system,
particularly to an electronic endoscope system constituted so that
a scope (electronic endoscope) is connected to a processor unit to
display an unconnected scope.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An electronic endoscope system is constituted so that a scope
(electronic endoscope) having a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) at its
front end is connected to a processor unit for processing images by
a connector and it is possible to set a plurality of scopes of the
same type or a plurality of scopes of different types to the
processor unit. Therefore, the data intrinsic to each scope on
optical characteristics of an objective optical system or
characteristic of a CCD is transmitted to a processor unit through
communication.
The intrinsic data includes the information for colors and gains
(amplification degrees) for image processing and the information
for IDs (Identities). In the processor, predetermined image
processing of video signals and processing for displaying images on
a monitor screen are executed in accordance with these intrinsic
data and moreover, operational functions of operating buttons are
set.
In the case of the data communication between the scopes and the
processor unit, intrinsic data may not be smoothly transmitted due
to imperfect connection of a connector portion for connecting them.
Therefore, the processor unit stores standard data for processing
so that an image processed in accordance with the standard data is
displayed on a monitor even under an imperfect-connection state.
Therefore, when no intrinsic data is transmitted, the indication of
the monitor frequently becomes an abnormal state and inversely, it
is decided by the abnormal indication that connection is imperfect.
Of course, no image is displayed unless a video signal is
transmitted. Thereby, it is possible to know imperfect
connection.
However, it can be hardly said that the above structure provides an
easy manipulability because imperfect connection of a connector
portion must be checked through the indication state of a monitor.
Moreover, when the function of an operating button depends on the
scope to be connected, a state is also considered in which a
predetermined operation cannot be performed because intrinsic data
is not communicated.
Furthermore, the following trouble may occur from the viewpoint
different from the above mentioned. That is, setting of operational
conditions to the above intrinsic data is performed in accordance
with various data values (such as program, conditional value, and
set value) stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) set to the processor
unit. In recent years, however, the version of the ROM is upgraded
in accordance with the update of functions of an endoscope.
However, though the version information of the ROM is described in
the specification, it is impossible to easily obtain the
information from the system. The ROM version information is
necessary to check the type of a scope which can be connected,
decide whether a peripheral unit such as a printer can be
connected, or replace the ROM and it is convenient if the version
information can be easily obtained from the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made to solve the above problems and its
object is to provide an easily-manipulatable electronic endoscope
system for displaying an unconnected scope and capable of
immediately deciding imperfect connection of a scope and easily
obtaining ROM version information from the system.
To achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized
by being provided with communication means for communication data
between a scope for observing the inside of an object to be
observed and a processor unit for processing an image signal,
decision means for deciding the imperfect-connection state of the
scope or deciding the connection-error state of the scope in
accordance with the communication data, and display control means
for displaying a predetermined image showing an unconnected scope
on a monitor screen when the imperfect-connection or
connection-error state of the scope is decided by the decision
means.
Moreover, another invention is characterized by incorporating a
detection fixed value into communication data in order to decide
the connection-error state.
Furthermore, still another invention is characterized in that the
display control means displays the version data in a memory which
is set to the above processor unit and in which the data for
setting various operational conditions considering the intrinsic
data concerned with each of the above scopes is stored together
with the above image showing an unconnected scope.
According to the above structure, when communication data cannot be
received for a data request to the scope side, it is possible to
decide an imperfect-connection state (including a completely
unconnected state). Moreover, a connection error is detected by
incorporating a detection fixed value (data) into the transmission
data of the intrinsic data of a scope. That is, by fetching the
detection fixed value from received data and checking whether the
value coincides with a correct value, it is decided that a
connection error is detected when the value does not coincide with
the received data. Moreover, the connection error can be detected
through parity check or overrun check.
Moreover, under the imperfect-connection or connection-error state,
a character image showing a message such as "please connect a
scope" is displayed by the display control means. Furthermore, in
the case of claim 3, a ROM version is displayed simultaneously with
the character display. A ROM to be set to a processor unit has a
program for matching with each unit and data such as a set value
and a condition value corresponding to each scope and the ROM
version also serves as a program version.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the electronic
endoscope system of an embodiment of the present invention for
displaying an unconnected scope;
FIG. 2 is an illustration showing the structure of transmission
data used for an embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an illustration showing the communication state between
scope side and processor side in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control operation of a
microcomputer at the processor unit side in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is an illustration showing a monitor screen of second
embodiment of unconnected scope display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows the structure of the electronic endoscope system of
the first embodiment of the present invention for displaying an
unconnected scope. As shown in FIG. 1, a scope (electronic
endoscope) 10 is connected to a processor unit 12 by a removable
connector. A CCD 14 serving as an image pickup device is set to the
front end of the scope 10 through a not-illustrated objective
optical system and moreover, a light guide 15 for emitting
irradiation light from the front end face is set to the front
end.
A signal processing circuit 16 is provided so as to connect with
the CCD 14, in which a video signal output from the CCD 14 is
amplified by a CCD driving circuit or the like. Moreover, a
microprocessor 17 is set to the scope 10, which performs
communication control for transmitting the intrinsic data of the
scope 10 to the processor unit 12.
FIG. 2 shows transmission data generated by the microprocessor 17.
The transmission data 50 is data beginning with, for example, STX
(start), including color data, gain data, and ID data which is the
intrinsic data of a scope, and ending with ETX (end) and BCC (block
check code) to which a vertical parity is assigned. Fixed values E1
and E2 such as numerical values for detecting connection errors can
be incorporated into the transmission data 50 as illustrated. These
fixed values E1 and E2 are used as data for deciding whether
transmission is normally performed by being compared with fixed
values previously stored in the processor unit 12.
The processor unit 12 includes an A-D converter 19, a DVP (Digital
Video Processor) 20 for processing various images of video signals,
and a D-A converter 21. Moreover, the processor unit 12 is provided
with a microcomputer 22 for executing various controls such as
communication control and decision of imperfect connection or
connection errors and processing an image or setting an operating
button in accordance with color data and gain data transmitted from
the scope 10. The microcomputer 22 is provided with a RAM (Random
Access Memory) 23 and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 24. The ROM 24
stores a program and various data for executing a predetermined
setting correspondingly to various scopes.
That is, the microcomputer 22 makes a request for the transmission
of intrinsic data to the scope side when the power supply of the
processor unit 12 is turned on as shown in FIG. 3. In this case,
unless transmission data is received, the microcomputer 22 decides
imperfect connection. However, when the microcomputer 22 receives
the transmission data 50 from the microprocessor 17 shown in FIG.
2, it extracts the fixed values E1 and E2, temporarily stores them
in the RAM 23, and checks if these values match with the fixed data
stored in the ROM 24. When the values coincide with the fixed data,
the microcomputer 22 decides that the values are normal. However,
when the values do not coincide with the fixed data, it decides a
connection error.
Moreover, the microcomputer 22 compares a transmitted BCC (block
check code) with the vertical parity and decides a connection error
unless they coincide with each other. Furthermore, in the case of
this example, the horizontal parity and overrun are checked at the
same time. When an error is present in them, the microcomputer 22
decides the error as a connection error.
A light source 25 for supplying light to the light guide 15 is also
set into the processor unit 12. Moreover, a television monitor 27
for displaying the image inside an object to be observed obtained
by the CCD 14 is connected to the processor unit 12, in which an
image showing the unconnected scope is displayed. That is, when the
scope 10 is under an imperfect-connection state or connection-error
state, the microcomputer 22 outputs a command signal for
unconnected image display to the DVP 20 which generates, for
example, a message "PLEASE RECONNECT SCOPE" (character image) and
outputs it to the monitor 27.
The first embodiment comprises the above structure. When the power
supply of the processor unit 12 is turned on, the processor unit 12
makes a request for the transmission of data to the microprocessor
17 of the scope 10 from the microcomputer 22 as shown in FIG. 3.
Moreover, when the processor unit 12 cannot receive transmission
data 50 from the scope 10 at all, the microcomputer 22 decides an
imperfect-connection (or unconnected) state and outputs an
unconnected-image display command to the DVP 20. Thereby,
characters "PLEASE RECONNECT SCOPE" are displayed on the monitor 27
as shown in FIG. 1.
However, when the processor unit 12 receives the transmission data
50, the microcomputer 22 decides whether there is a connection
error in accordance with FIG. 4. That is, it is decided whether
there is mismatch of horizontal parity or overrun in the
transmission data 50 in step 101, whether there is mismatch of BCC
in step 102, and whether there is mismatch of the fixed values E1
and E2 in step 103. Moreover, in the case of "YES" because an error
occurs in any one of these steps 101 to 103, step 104 is
started.
In step 104, it is decided whether the above error occurs three
times. In the case of "NO", a request for retransmission is made to
the scope 10 in step 105. In the case of "YES", a command for
unconnected designation image display (message display) is output
in step 106. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment,
retransmission is requested three times when an error occurs and
when the third-time error is detected, the message "PLEASE
RECONNECT SCOPE" is displayed on the monitor 27.
Unless any error is detected in the above steps 101, 102, and 103,
the decision operation is ended and ACK (affirmative response) is
output to the scope 10 as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 shows a display state by the monitor 27 of the second
embodiment. The second embodiment displays the version information
of the ROM 24 provided for the processor unit 12 in the unconnected
designation image display described above. That is, the ROM 24
shown in FIG. 1 stores its version information. When the
microcomputer 22 decides that the scope 10 is under an
imperfect-connection or connection-error state, it reads the
version data from the ROM 24 and outputs the data to the DVP
20.
Thus, because the DVP 20 generates an image in which the characters
"Version 1.20" are added to "PLEASE RECONNECT SCOPE", a message for
prompting connection is displayed on the screen of the monitor 27
in FIG. 5 together with the version information.
The second embodiment has an advantage that it is possible to
easily know the version (particularly, stored program version)
information of the ROM 24 by turning on the power supply of the
processor unit 12 without connecting the scope 10. That is, as
described above, unless the scope 10 is connected, imperfect
connection is decided and a message including version information
is displayed.
Display of the version information is effective to check the type
of the scope 10 which can be connected to the processor unit 12,
decide whether a peripheral unit such as a printer or VTR can be
connected, and replace the ROM 24. In the case of this embodiment,
ROM version information can be displayed according to necessity
without using any special switch. Therefore, the manipulability is
improved.
In the case of the above embodiments, a character message is
displayed as an image for showing an unconnected scope. However, it
is also possible to warn the state of an unconnected scope by
changing the color of a screen to a particular color (e.g. blue) or
displaying a particular diagram (e.g. blue circle).
As described above, the present invention makes it possible to
immediately decide imperfect connection of a scope. Moreover,
because a fixed value for detecting an error is incorporated into
communication data, there is an advantage that a connection error
is securely decided. Furthermore, when a trouble occurs in
connection, it is possible to easily check the program version of a
ROM and moreover, know version information without using any
special switch.
* * * * *